As this year’s Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship Final fast approaches we now have the first competitor for our 2015 Final confirmed, João Girão claimed the first qualifying spot at the stunning Quinta do Lago Laranjal course competing in the Paul McGinley Junior Cup.

The par 72 course is set in the grounds of an orange grove and in 2011 was named Portugal’s Best Course at the Portuguese Travel Awards and it proved to be a great test for the up and coming stars of the future.

Open to boys and girls under 18 , this year’s Paul McGinley Junior Cup attracted a high calibre field including the Portuguese national under-14 champion Calvin Holmes, as well as Portuguese international Afonso Girão (João’s brother) and 2015 US Kids European winner Matthew Golovanov.

17 year old João came out on top winning the overall gross title with an impressive 2 under par. The victory gave the +1 handicap Portuguese International plenty to celebrate. As well as conquering his place at this year’s Telegraph BMW Golf Championship final, he also received the trophy from the hands of the 2014 Winning Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley himself.

The Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship’s 2015 Final field will be confirmed during the next week. João will join the other finalists between October 12-17th at Quinta do Lago to compete in the prestigious 54 hole strokeplay event, which has previously been won by golfing stars including Justin Rose, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Melissa Reid and Carly Booth.

For more information on this year’s championship and live updates, please follow @telegraphjunior.

In 1985 The Telegraph launched ‘The Telegraph Junior Golf Championship’ and this year the Championship is celebrating an amazing 30 years.

Over the years the Championship has grown into one of the biggest junior competitions in the world and one of the most sort after titles to win. When the first Final took place in 1985 at The Belfry the field was boys only and Terry Berry was the first Champion, Terry who was only 15 at the time turned pro in 1989. 1990 saw the introduction of girls and the Championship has been a mixed competition ever since helping grow golf for junior girls too.

One of the reasons thousands of boys and girls try to qualify for the Championship Final is the once in a lifetime experience it provides. This year the finalists will receive clothing and merchandise from TaylorMade adidas Golf, stay in the 5 star Monte da Quinta Resort, play the stunning North Course at Quinta do Lago, take part in a fun SKY Media Training evening and attend a fabulous Gala Dinner at the end of the week. Quinta do Lago has been the ‘Home of The Championship’ for the last two years and the final returns again this October.

Over the years the final has travelled to many destinations all over the world including; Portugal, America, South Africa, Dubai and Abu Dhabi-playing some of the best courses in the world.

“I gained so much experience at Junior Golf, it helped me understand so much.” Rebecca Hudson

” The Final was the best week of my life and I made friends for life.”

Sophie Walker

In the last 30 years there have been many talented juniors play in the Championship as teenagers hoping to make it in the golfing world. Many of those juniors have gone on to be professional golfers, Justin Rose the winner in 1997 has become one of Britain’s most successful golfers and in 2013 won the US Open. Andrew Coltart the winner in 1986 became a European Tour regular and Ryder Cup player.

“I myself was lucky enough to play and win The Telegraph Junior Golf Championship and I always felt that my game benefited greatly from the experience I gained playing different courses and seeking out a place in the final. It was one of the first events I won and it helped give me the confidence to pursue my dream and eventually become a European Tour regular and a Ryder Cup player.” Andrew Coltart

Oliver Fisher and Matthew Fitzpatrick are both enjoying successful careers on The European Tour and Rebecca Hudson, Melissa Reid, Carly Booth, Alex Peters and Sally Watson are all climbing the world rankings and playing on the Ladies European Tour.

” Special memories of my time in Dubai” Sally Watson

The Telegraph Junior Golf Championship has grown significantly over the last 30 years, in recent years The Telegraph has been joined by key sponsors including BMW, QDL, Monte da Quinta, Tourism de Portugal, TaylorMade adidas Golf, Monarch, The R&A, England Golf and SKY, who together are working to grow the event further and find more golfing superstars of the future. Paul McGinley is also an ambassador for Junior Golf and last year attended the Final with The Ryder Cup Trophy- another once in a lifetime opportunity for some of the finalists!

Could this be you? If you would like to enter one of our qualifiers for your chance to be at the Final please see the below link.

Lebron James, he is a basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is very athletic and works so hard on the court when he plays, I have seen him play a few times and he’s just awesome. 4. What is your favourite on course snack? Fruit and crackers 5. If you could have any golfer follow you on twitter who would it be? Suzann Pettersen or Rory Mcilroy 6. What is the best golfing advice you have ever received? Form is temporary, class is permanent. 7. Apart from your golf clubs and balls, what else would we find in your golf bag? Lip balm, spare bushnell batteries and a champagne cork because they’re meant to be lucky! 8. What is your biggest golfing achievement to date? Winning the English Girls Amateur Championship, this lead to me receiving an invite to The Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship final. 9. Any advice for junior golfers aspiring to qualify for The Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship Final? Don’t give up, keep grinding it out and good things will come. The prize at the end is well worth it and you will thank yourself later!